Artificial tooth and method of installation of the same



1940- F. c. MORRISON 2.210.424

ARTIFICIAL TOOTH AND METHOD OF INSTALLATION OF THE SAME Filed Nov. 25,1955 mum! INVENTOR.

FREDERICK CLINTON MORRISON aw WM ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 6, 1940 ARTIFICIAL TOOTH AND METHOD OF INSTALLATION OFTHESAME Frederick Clinton Morrison, Los Angeles, Calif, ApplicationNovember 25, 1935, Serial No. 51,410

3 Claims. (01. 32-15) This invention relates. to artificial teeth andmethod of their implantation in a tooth socket of the alveolar processof thejawbone to replace disease wise de ective teeth.

In the art prior to my invention it has been general practice to replacethe defective crown or upper portion of a natural tooth and employ,

the lower root portions thereof as a foundation for an artificialstructure. In preparing the lower natural root formation for such usethe pulp must necessarily be removed, together with the arteries, veins,and nerves, to insure thorough sanitation within the tooth. However, dueto the proximity of the infectious virus of a decayed tooth, before itsremoval, the root portions, surrounding peridental membrane and bonestructure are invariably contaminated, which cannot be remedied withoutextraction of the root portions themselves.- It is thus ordinarilyimpossible to utilize any part of a partially decayed tooth for anunlimited time, without Iseriously affecting the health of the patient.

It is a general object of my invention to provide a means and methodwhereby defects in natural teeth, either because of decay, infection, orsimilar noxious conditions, or a physical injury or deformity, may becorrected by replacement of the natural tooth with an artificialstructure rooted in the same manner as the original tooth.

A specific object of my invention is to provide I an artificial tooth ofany size and shape having root portions adapted to seat in the toothsocket of the jawbone so as to replace all or any part of the originaltooth, and which will be united, when so placed, with the peridentalmembrane and alveolar process by natural secretions of cementum in thesame manner as the original tooth.

Another object is the provision of an artificial tooth or portionthereof having a shape determinable by the shape of a specific toothsocket in which the tooth is to be implanted, and adapted to have metalreinforcing fiber, bars, or tubes incorporated therein to lend eitherflexibility or' strength and rigidity as required, and which structuralbonds may, in accordance with specific requirements, be extended throughthe sides thereof and associate with adjacent natural or artificialteeth, a removable crown, or as a support for bridgestructure.

Another object is the provision of an artificial tooth embodying incombination with any of the above features, roots and neck portionshaving decayed, broken, deformed, or .othera porous exterior, the cellsof which are adapted to be filled with a gelatinous compound and animalfiber or similar substances so as to cooperate with the cementumsecretions adjacent the peridental membrane to retain the artificialtooth within the socket.

Another object is to provide an artificial tooth comprising a rootedportion embodying any of the characteristics above designated having asubstantially fiat upper surface to furnish .a foundation for a bridgeformation, a set' of adjoining teeth not necessarily themselves rooted,

or a removable crown.

Another object is to provide a method by which natural teeth having oneor more root portions may be replaced by artificial teeth in individualnatural sockets of the alveolar process or ridge of the jawbone andencourage the natural growth of tissues around the same to thus retainthe roots and neck of the tooth in the same manner as the original.

Fig. 3 illustrates'in section a channelled fiexi ble filling fortreatment of diseased portions of the tooth socket;

Figs. 4 and 5 areelevations of solid porcelain teeth adapted to replace,respectively, the temporary fillings illustrated in Figs; 1 and3;

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are elevations of porcelain.

lteeth having auxiliary means to resist removal from the tooth socket;

Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12 illustrate artificial teeth, in elevation,embodying various reinforcing structures;

Fig. 13 shows a. tooth in elevation, with channels for treating diseasedportions;

Fig. 14 is an elevation of a composite tooth comprising a root portionand a crown connected by means of a dowel pin;

Fig. 15 is a composite tooth, in elevation, re-

inforced by a perforated tube, shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 16 is an elevation of a tooth with dotted lines indicating anabnormal projection'of the original natural tooth it is adapted toreplace:

Fig. 17 is an elevation of a channelled tooth;

Fig. 18 is an elevation of a tooth provided with grooves to facilitateattachment in the socket;

Fig. 19 is an elevation of the tooth having a knob at its lower end;

Figs. 20 and 21 illustrate in elevation the crown portions of teethsupported by adjacent rooted artificial teeth;

Fig. 22 is an end elevation of the rooted tooth illustrated in Fig, 21;

Fig. 23 is a section on line 23-23 of Fig. 20.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numerals of which indicatesimilar parts throughout the several views, 25 designates the jawbone,and 26 the alveolar process or ridge in which the tooth socket isformed. The specific natural shape of the alveolar process depends uponthe number of root portions it supports. Between the natural teeth andthe osseous tissues of the jaw.- bone, the peridental membrane islocated, through which the nerves, arteries, and veins pass to the lowerend of the roots and into the inner pulp chamber of each tooth. Theteeth are held within the socket by a natural cement produced by glandswithin the peridental membrane. composition and function of individualnatural elements of the tooth socket is imperative for completeappreciation and recognition of the present invention, it is believedthat such information is well within the knowledge of those of skill inthis art.

- By careful extraction of the tooth and adhering cementum, by wellknown means, the glands which produce the cementum may be preserved.Upon removal of the natural tooth, the alveolar process, and peridentalmembrane will immediately begin to disintegrate unless a substitute isprovided to stimulate growth and the glands to rebuild old tissue.Diseased portions of the socket must be cured and dead tissue removed.To combat these difiiculties and particularly to allow time for commonskill in the art combined with well known natural and artificialexpedients to cure and cleanse the cavity, a temporary expansiblefilling 21 is inserted therein. This temporary filling, preferablycomposed of gutta percha, rubber or the like, maintains the cavity atthe exact size and shape until a porcelain permanent tooth can beconstructed and the cavity prepared for its installation. As is wellknown, natural teeth may have abnormal root, formations which many timesinterfere with adjacent teeth. For this reason, the shape of thetemporary filling does not necessarily conform to the shape of thecavity, but may be smaller or improved by omitting abnormalities. Insuch case the portion of the cavity not occupied by the filling willgradually close and disappear. Certain dimensions of the filling may belarger to expand the cavity at certain points to aid in retaining thepermanent tooth when installed as will hereinafter appear.

A series of fillings may be successively inserted into the cavity, eachslightly larger or changed in design from its predecessor to alter theform of the tooth socket. successively-placed fillings may similarlyvary in porosity and renitence to gradually mold the socket.

To facilitate treatment of a diseased cavity, generally indicated at 28,before the implantation of the permanent tooth, a filling 29 isprovided,

While a thorough understanding of the having a very. porous lowerportion Ill (Fig. 2). The pores of filling 29 are impregnated with amedicated wax which is melted-by the heat of the body or forced againstthe diseased portion of the tooth socket by compression of the filling.A flexible filling having a pair of canals is shown inFig. 3. The canalscomprise a pair of funnels 3| embedded in the top of the toothcommunicated with a pair of tubes 32. The tubes extend to opposite sidesor ends of the diseased portions of the socket and furnish conduits formedicaments to be passed over the diseased portions and removed with theinfectious matter or dead tissue. When the curative irrigation is not inprogress, the funnels may be sealed by well known means.

When it has been determined that the cavity is thoroughly cured, formed,cleaned, and sumciently healed, a permanent tooth, reinforced if desiredas hereinafter specifiedris inserted therein and the temporary fillingdiscarded. This final tooth is preferably made of inorganic mineralelements or salts, such, for instance, as

porcelain, impervious to stains or deterioration- The crown of apermanent porcelain tooth may be of any desired color, shape, orbrilliance.

Permanentteeth, adapted for installation in the cavities indicated inFigs. 1 and 3, are shown in Figs. 4 and 5 respectively. Immediately uponinstallation the tissues of the jawbone structure,

alveolar process, peridental membrane, and cetention in the tooth socketby the growth of tissues thereover. Figs. 6, '7 and 8 illustrateexamples of such construction. Various means of reinforcement may beembodied in the tooth by the manufacturer. Fig. 9 illustrates, in dottedlines, a non-corrosive perforated metal tube embedded in a porcelainbody. In Fig. 10 twisted wire provides strength without the accompanyingrigidity of a steel bar or tube. Mineral fibers (Fig. 11) may beincorporated in the ceramic mixture of the porcelain tooth prior tofiring, such as flint, sillimanite, pyrophyllite, kyanite, syntheticmullite needles, or any fiber which will not be dissolved or undergo aphysical change in the process of firing the tooth. In Fig. 12 a metalperforated tube conforming to the shape of the final tooth isillustrated in dotted lines, which provides great rigidity.

The natural tendency of the tooth socket glands is to build up and closethe cavity, as above noted. Abnormal root formations of original teeth,as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 16, may be omitted in both fillingand artificial tooth, and will be eventually supplemented by naturalosseous tissue.

If it should be necessary to continue treatment of the tooth socketafter the installation of a permanent tooth it may be done by means ofthe teeth illustrated in Figs. 13 and 17, which are provided withchannels 35 and through which the cavity or impeding circulation throughthe tubes.

In addition to the horizontal grooves 33 or ridges 34 as is shown inFigs. 6, 7 and 8, longitudinal grooves 36 illustrated in Fig. 18 may beprovided in the tooth root to counteract any tendency of a tooth to turnin its socket before final setting. A knob 31 (Fig. 19) may be formedany place on the root in specific embodiments to aid in retaining thefinal tooth.

Rooted artificial teeth being entirely free from organic matter affectedby mouth acids, capable of strength far greater than ordinarilyrequired, and formed for their most rigid balanced support in theirsockets, provide an excellent foundation for crown or bridge formations.A canine root structure 38 is illustrated in Fig. 14 provided with adowel pin 39 on which is mounted a crown 40 of any shape or shadedesired. A rod, or as is shown in Fig. 15, a perforated tube 4|, may besubstituted for the dowel pin to retain the crown in place.

My invention is particularly adaptable for bridge and set structures.Figs. 20 and 22 illustrate two applications of said construction, ofwhich there are many well known in the art. It should be noted that thecrown portions 42 are cast in a single unit with the supporting tube 43,

entirely invisible, being molded within the porcelain.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of replacing an entire natural tooth with an artificialtooth which consists of extracting the natural tooth, cleaning thecavity, inserting a flexible filling into the cavity of suflicientrigidity to resist compression by growth of the natural tissues andstimulate gland activity, moving the filling periodically to preventadherence to the cavity walls, extracting the filling and inserting arigid permanent tooth of substantially the same size as the filling.

2. The method of replacing an entire natural tooth which consists ofextracting the natural tooth, inserting an expansible filling into saidcavity, and periodically substituting a filling more resistant topressure of the walls of the cavity than its predecessor.

3. The method of replacing a natural tooth which consists of extractingthe natural tooth and inserting therein an artificial tooth having 'apair of tubes from the crown through the root and circulating amedicinal fluid into one of said 25 tubes and from the other of saidtubes.

FREDERICK CLINTON MORRISON.

